mr. norquist told us. so it doesn't violate the pledge? we wouldn't hold it that way, he said. norquist had pointed out that republicans could allow the bush tax cuts to expire and raise government revenue by as much as $4 trillion over the next decade without violating the grover norquist pledge. the pledge to him to oppose any and all efforts to increase the marginal income tax rates. this made democrats very excited. >> grover norquist, the hall monitor when it comes to enforcing the republican party's anti-tax pledge, has given house republicans a hall pass. they should use it. >> i think mr. norquist has made a very, very important statement that i hope that they each take into consideration. >> less than 40 minutes after congressman hoyer praised the development, norquist appeared on this network to clarify that though allowing the bush tax cuts to expire may not technically violate his pledge, that does not mean republicans should actually do it. >> now, hoyer is wrong. there are certain things you could do technically and not violate the pledge, but that the general pub